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A review by bekahklemke
Godkiller by Hannah Kaner
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Godkiller features a retired knight, a woman trained to kill gods, a noble girl, and her god without any memory of the god war that destroyed cities and lives. They find themselves on an illegal pilgrimage to a city known for its hidden gods to each ask for a favor, but there are secrets and unknowns that will come to light.
I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience. For being a debut fantasy, Hannah Kaner did such a fantastic job at creating a beautiful and intricate fantasy world. I became so attached to the characters, and I enjoyed how she was able to give me tidbits of background while leaving me wanting more. The plot was slow moving, but I didn't mind because it gave me time to fully immerse myself in the world and characters.
Godkiller handles deep themes of broken trust, friendship and what we'll do for those we love, and what happens when our hearts lead us away from what duty calls us to do. There are moments where the author created a sense of unease in me as the characters battled with these conflicting desires and emotions.
Some of the strengths I noticed in Godkiller include:
• Hannah Kaner's writing style (which is beautiful!)
• diverse and relatable characters, each with a distinct voice (4 POVs)
• the ability to give small tidbits of history and information on a complex world without info dumping
Weaknesses:
• I didn't quite understand how the "villian" came to be. It seemed too sudden for me.
• some might think the book is paced too slow. I don't mind a slower pace, but it could be a downside for some.
• I would have liked some additional backstory on the main POVs. It would have made me love the story even more.
• The romance was a bit cringy. It could have been better developed.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the reading experience of Godkiller. There were several elements that could have been improved, hence the 3.5 stars, but the writing style and basic bones of this story shows that Hannah Kaner is an author to keep an eye on. The ending of this book was also well done, so I'll definitely be reading book 2!
I thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience. For being a debut fantasy, Hannah Kaner did such a fantastic job at creating a beautiful and intricate fantasy world. I became so attached to the characters, and I enjoyed how she was able to give me tidbits of background while leaving me wanting more. The plot was slow moving, but I didn't mind because it gave me time to fully immerse myself in the world and characters.
Godkiller handles deep themes of broken trust, friendship and what we'll do for those we love, and what happens when our hearts lead us away from what duty calls us to do. There are moments where the author created a sense of unease in me as the characters battled with these conflicting desires and emotions.
Some of the strengths I noticed in Godkiller include:
• Hannah Kaner's writing style (which is beautiful!)
• diverse and relatable characters, each with a distinct voice (4 POVs)
• the ability to give small tidbits of history and information on a complex world without info dumping
Weaknesses:
• I didn't quite understand how the "villian" came to be. It seemed too sudden for me.
• some might think the book is paced too slow. I don't mind a slower pace, but it could be a downside for some.
• I would have liked some additional backstory on the main POVs. It would have made me love the story even more.
• The romance was a bit cringy. It could have been better developed.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the reading experience of Godkiller. There were several elements that could have been improved, hence the 3.5 stars, but the writing style and basic bones of this story shows that Hannah Kaner is an author to keep an eye on. The ending of this book was also well done, so I'll definitely be reading book 2!